Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan, fined by FIFA for not clearing the dues of Nigerian Isa Musah last year, have paid up the penalty of Rs 5,29,000 to football's world governing body and requested it to withdraw the ban imposed on recruiting foreign players till April 2004.

Bagan assistant secretary Balaram Chowdhury, who took the intiative to settle the matter, paid the amount, equivalent to 11,000 dollars, to the Players' Status Committee of FIFA through the Indian Football Association.

"We had to make payment of the fine imposed by FIFA. Now we look forward to the withdrawal of the ban on recruitment, which is important for us to strengthen the squad before the National Football League," Chowdhury said in Kolkata on Monday.

FIFA had slapped the punishment after Musah, who turned out for the club last year, moved the FIFA Players' Status Committee earlier this year, claiming that Bagan had failed to pay his contractual dues.

Subsequently, FIFA opened a case on the issue and sought clarification from the city club, which suspended Musa and fellow-Nigerian Geroge Ekeh for six months on grounds of "indiscipline".